Tag Archives: phoenix children’s hospital

The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Phoenix Children’s Hospital are developing new economical methods of preserving, storing and transporting high-quality blood plasma proteins for use in diagnosing and treating disease.

Under a $698,502 three-year grant from the National Institutes of Health, the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Biorepository and TGen’s Proteomics Division are using special filter papers to devise a test that is highly accurate, yet simple enough that patients could provide their own blood samples from home, even under a variety of room temperatures.

In the initial phase of the study, researchers seek to reduce, and even eliminate, both immediate and long-term protein degradation by selecting the best methods of collecting, stabilizing and storing blood proteins. This combined effort holds the promise of significantly improving existing protocols with a simple and cost-effective method suitable for highly sensitive mass-spectrometry proteomic analysis.

Preliminary work has already been presented at meetings of Human Proteomics (HUPO) and the International Society of Environmental and Biological Repositories (ISBER). Researchers began collecting blood samples on May 2 from 20 consenting volunteers.

According to Dr. Carpentieri, this project is critical for the future of cost-effective proteomics research as suggested by similar DNA and RNA protocols that quickly stabilize molecules at ambient, or room-temperature, conditions.

“It is the vision of this working group, that this study will substantially contribute to the reduction of pre-analytical laboratory errors and will lead the way to reliable discoveries in the field of proteomics and pediatric diseases,” Dr. Carpentieri said.

Dr. Pirrotte said a key to the project is the use of dried blood-derived plasma proteins for the early detection of disease biomarkers. By storing dried blood on pre-treated filter paper, protein storage costs could be alleviated. Furthermore, samples would not need to be kept cold during shipment.

“We could collect samples without a clinician or trained personnel even being present. We could envision a skin-prick test that patients could conduct themselves, the sample could then be mailed to laboratories for analysis,” Dr. Pirrotte said. “Such a method would empower the patient, and increase the number potential medical follow-ups, while reducing costs. This could ultimately lead to better long-term monitoring of the patient’s health.”

In a second phase of the project, expected to start sometime in 2016, Phoenix Children’s Hospital and TGen would apply the best methods towards a study of 20 leukemia patients.

The 2015 Healthcare Leadership Awards winner for Physician of the Year was killed by a hit-and-run driver Monday morning in Scottsdale.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital confirmed Dr. Robert Arceci was fatally injured while on his way to work.

The hospital issued this statement: “Phoenix Children’s physician Dr. Robert Arceci was fatally injured after being hit by another vehicle in Scottsdale this morning while on his way to work. His family has asked that we make no further statement and provide them privacy at this very difficult time.”

Arceci’s innovative research and treatment of children with cancer earned him AZ Business magazine’s Healthcare Leadership Award for Physician of the Year in April.

Arceci concentrated his work on basic and translational research in pediatric hematology and oncology, Dr. Arceci’s focus was on discovery and implementation of basic science to improve the comprehensive care for children and adolescents with cancer. He was particularly involved in the development of novel therapeutic targets and immunotherapies to improve outcomes while reducing adverse side effects in patients with cancer. A large part of his focus was to bring together teams of multidisciplinary groups of investigators to develop scientifically robust and interactive environments for molecularly based, individualized treatment.

The week also provides an opportunity to learn how delivering exceptional outcomes with a powerful cost and value proposition – every patient’s hope and every provider’s objective – is shaping the business of medicine. As the health care environment undergoes seemingly constant change, industry leaders are developing innovative methods to address value, choice and cost considerations – physician-hospital networks are rapidly becoming the linchpin.

Business leaders and industry-savvy consumers have heard all about HMOs, PPOs and even ACOs, but now there is a new addition to the health care lexicon: the clinically integrated organization (CIO). The CIO is an interconnected network of clinical providers and hospitals working in synergy to deliver the best possible outcomes for their patients while concurrently managing health care costs.

Over the past five years, clinically integrated organizations have grown in popularity. But such networks are highly unusual in the pediatric environment, despite the fact that pediatric practitioners face even greater challenges of quality and efficiency.

Here in Phoenix, we are among the first cities in the country to establish a pediatric clinically integrated organization with the debut of Phoenix Children’s Care Network (PCCN). Established in 2014, PCCN is defining the way health care is delivered to Valley children and their families. Our more than 800 primary care and specialty providers have studied and trained to work exclusively with children and are committed to improving clinical performance across the spectrum of pediatric care.

The differentiator of the CIO is a model of payer contracting driven by evidence of improved care and cost efficiencies. Our pediatric physicians employ consistent standards of care delivery, quality reporting and tracking, information sharing and collaboration to ensure their clinical performance improves over time. In the Valley, this groundbreaking model is designed to improve access to all levels of care, achieve the best pediatric clinical outcomes and deliver an excellent patient experience.

What does this mean for Valley businesses and consumers? Growing evidence shows insurance pricing in Arizona is expected to increase markedly – potentially by double digits. As such, cost and choice will become an even larger factor in choosing a plan from the roster of offerings. But in evaluating coverage options, businesses and consumers alike should take care to consider the plan’s overall value including affordability, coverage, provider network, quality and access to care.

Businesses seeking comprehensive yet cost-efficient coverage for their employees should ensure their plan includes a strong CIO network. People build personal and valuable relationships with their doctors and hospitals – nowhere is this more evident than in pediatrics. When choosing a plan, they want to see options that include these trusted providers. With more than half of all Valley pediatricians, 80 percent of Maricopa County’s pediatric specialists and access to Phoenix Children’s Hospital and its specialty and urgent care centers, PCCN delivers quality, access, affordability and expertise Valley residents can trust.

Amidst a rapidly evolving health care landscape, National Hospital Week provides an opportunity to recognize adaptive and strategic care delivery models like the clinically integrated organization; they are critical in providing greater Phoenix residents the quality and affordable care they deserve.

Dave Cottle is Phoenix Children’s Hospital Vice President of Planning, Design and Construction.

By David Cottle, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and Aron Kirch, Kitchell | Special to AZ Big Media

Noise, vibrations, dust and other disruptions are always a concern during hospital construction but never more sensitive than when the youngest, most vulnerable patients are a mere 5.5 inches away on the floor below. This is what’s happening right now at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, as shell space is built out above the hospital’s Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (PEMU), a program of Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. In a PEMU, each patient’s room is outfitted with video equipment to capture seizure activity while a child’s brainwaves are recorded. The feedback is used to obtain highly accurate diagnoses leading to more effective treatment plans.

Anticipating future need was strategically built into the design of Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s 11-story patient

tower, which opened to patients in 2011 with three shelled floors to accommodate future expansion. Just a year after opening, volume demands required Phoenix Children’s to set plans

Aron Kirch is a Kitchell project manager.

in motion to build out the top floors. Today we’re creating extra capacity on the tower’s ninth floor. The 45,000-square-foot space will feature 48 patient rooms. Kitchell is back on site as the general contractor, HKS is the architect and CCRD Partners is the M/E/P Engineer.

Don’t drop anything!

Just imagine how quietly the construction team must proceed to avoid making even the smallest sound or vibration. Noise mitigation is priority number one. It’s a construction site where communication is done via whispers, texts and email, and all field supervisors have radios in case an immediate shutdown of construction activities is necessary. And it’s a site where materials are brought into the building via an external hoist.

PCH, Courtesy of Kitchell

Everything the team does requires advance thought, meticulous planning and ongoing communication with hospital staff, which began during preconstruction and included deputizing one of the nurses as “construction project manager.” Absolutely nothing could be a surprise; even something as seemingly mundane as lifting a pipe could be an issue, because of the potential of the loud “clang” as the result of dropping it. This advance thought included orchestrating a “make noise” session for staff a month prior to construction. Together with our trade contractors, we demonstrated all noises that could be a potential impact to the eighth floor. This included floor grinding, shot pins, scissor lifts, roto-hammers, cutting, chopping, dropped pipe, saw cutting, shop vac and core drilling.

Here are some of the tactics being deployed to ensure the comfort of the children and their families below the jobsite, while allowing staff to do their work unimpeded:

 A lift was built on the west side of the building to transport everything up and in for construction. Absolutely nothing is brought in through the inside of the building. The lift makes 100 trips daily. Because children love watching construction activities, we decorated the hoist with a decal of Superman so he appears to be flying each time the hoist passes in front of their windows.
 As much work as possible was done offsite, completely removing significant noise and vibration from the job site. For example, headwalls were built offsite and then ingeniously “split in two” to fit inside the outdoor hoist and reassembled once on site.
 Intelligent phasing has been instituted. For example, the loudest activity is drilling into the floor (the ceiling of the 8th floor) which creates echoes and vibrations. Working with hospital staff, we developed a schedule to drill 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off.
 Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) containment on the 8th floor was meticulously planned and executed long before construction began. We used cardboard mock-ups to create the center core of the floor (nurse work areas) and then adjusted areas to fit the changing needs of the facility. These adjustments required plumbing revisions to approximately 30 rooms on the floor below.
 Rubber mats were placed throughout the 45,000-square-foot space to deaden the sound of the carts, which traverse the expanse constantly throughout the day. And all cutting and chopping activities are required to be executed on a rubber mat.
 We’re upgrading the existing shell space fire sprinkler system for the 9th floor build-out, which requires being “wet” every night to keep the system energized. To mitigate the risk of an overnight leak, and potentially putting the 8th floor at risk, we place sensors on the floor at the end of each shift. In the event of a leak, these sensors signal team leaders’ cell phones on a SmartThings app. This allows for response time to be minutes instead of hours.
 The schedule of direct impact activities, such as drilling, cutting, and materials transport, are communicated proactively and requested adjustments are always accommodated. The nursing staff was engaged at the earliest juncture – during preconstruction to experience cardboard “mockups” of the space – to ensure complete collaboration through the life of the project. In fact, our project manager meets with the nursing staff on the 8th floor each morning at 7:15 a.m. to ensure that the flow of construction above is acceptable based on potential changes during the preceding night. This communication is augmented by weekly meetings with the nursing staff (enhanced by homemade cupcakes) to discuss upcoming activities.

When concern for patients and families, communication with staff and thorough forethought are embedded into every plan and every activity, construction doesn’t need to create commotion and disruption, even in a children’s hospital. Meticulous planning and ongoing collaboration with medical staff makes the process seamless and rewarding for all. And cupcakes don’t hurt either!

Tumble into the rabbit hole for an evening of over-the-top whimsy and fantasy at High Street’s first-ever Mad Hauter Block Party. On Saturday, April 25, the Phoenix entertainment district will host an evening of sinful fun. Crazy hats, sexy dresses, kinky cocktails, an off-the-chart fashion show and much more await those who enter.

The event will feature an impressive lineup of food and drink from High Street restaurants and bars including Modern Margarita, LaBocca Wine Bar & Urban Kitchen, Mojo Yogurt, and more. Plus your favorite food trucks will be onsite to satiate your hunger for something different, exciting and unique.

If fashion is what you crave, the Cheshire Catwalk sponsored by Scottsdale Fashion Week is a must-see! The runway will showcase vintage fashion by Robert Black, plus haute couture hats and wearable art from Cyndie Verity. Select hats and outfits will be available for purchase at the event.

Guests are encouraged to don their most daring outfit and creative hat for a chance to win the title of “Belle of the Block Party”. But if finesse is more your style, then dress to impress; the FORD/Robert Black Agency will be roaming the grounds looking for fresh faces to grace the runway at Scottsdale Fashion Week, and to participate in an upcoming photo shoot for High Street. There will also be a VIP “Tea Party” area with food from Ocean Prime, Caterpillar’s Hookah Lounge, hat-making stations sponsored by Pinspiration and other fun surprises.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Phoenix Children’s Hospital and a raffle filled with fabulous and exciting prizes will also support the cause. From the green turf croquet “fields” and large decks of cards to hedges and other fantastical touches, guests will be transported to an upside-down, topsy-turvy town of cocktails, couture and charity.

WHAT: Mad Hauter—A Sinful Celebration Featuring:

WHERE: High Street
5415 East High Street
Phoenix, AZ 85054

WHEN: Saturday, April 25, 2015
7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

TICKETS: Advanced tickets are $30 per person, includes two specialty cocktails

Medical center or hospital of the year: Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Western Regional Medical Center

Lifetime achievement award: Peter Fine, Banner Health

“The word visionary is thrown around often, but it’s not often that it really fits,” said Michael Gossie, editor in chief for Az Business magazine. “But that’s not the case with Peter Fine. He is a visionary. And it took a visionary to take two healthcare systems with very different histories and grow it into a healthcare company that generates more than $5 billion in annual revenue, operates 28 acute-care hospitals across seven states, and employs more than 45,000 employees in Arizona.”

Greasewood Flat, an Arizona Icon, is riding off into the sunset. Their last day of operation was March 31st. Local auction company, Sam Auctions, is inviting the public down to own a piece of the wild west on Saturday, April 11th. Greasewood Flat will sell many of the rustic treasures from one of the “oldest, quirkiest and most classic bars” in America.

You will also have a chance to win money from the famed “money room”, which is rumored to have more than $5,000 in signed dollar bills hanging from the ceiling, by purchasing a raffle ticket. Raffle tickets are $1 each and proceeds for the raffle will benefit Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

The event on April 11th is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More information is below:

Greasewood Flat began life as an old bunkhouse building in the middle of the sprawling DC Ranch which ranged over thousands of acres of Sonoran Desert in the late 1800’s. Over the last century this desert has developed into one of the most affluent areas of Scottsdale, AZ. Since then Greasewood has grown into one of the last bastions of Old West Scottsdale, with its outdoor dance floor, corrals full of burros, rustic wagons, fire pits, and cast of characters all contributing to an atmosphere that compels you to kick up your heels and toss back a cold one.

TMC for Children will partner with Phoenix Children’s Hospital, one of the 10 largest children’s hospitals in the country, for inpatient pediatric hospitalist and intensive care services beginning June 3.

“TMC for Children is committed to the children and families we serve,” said Judy Rich, TMC president and chief executive officer. “Our relationship with Phoenix Children’s builds upon a tradition of excellence and comprehensive, family-focused care that the community has come to expect from TMC for Children.”

Phoenix Children’s staff will be based in Pima County and call TMC their Tucson hospital home. They will assist in augmenting specialty services where gaps might exist in Tucson so families can access a broader spectrum of pediatric services closer to home and without having to travel to Phoenix.

“We’re excited to bring our special brand of pediatric care to TMC for Children,” said Ryan Bode, M.D., Hospitalist division chief, Phoenix Children’s. “This relationship will allow us to collaborate and consult with community pediatricians and pediatric specialists practicing in the Tucson area on the care of their patients and fill any gaps in pediatric specialty care that may exist in the region.”

Other long-standing pediatric relationships will remain the same. Pediatrix will continue to provide medical coverage to TMC’s newborn intensive care unit. The TMC Pediatric Emergency Department – the first in the region and the busiest in the city – will remain open 24/7 with the same dedicated staff.

Last November, Arizona voters resoundingly passed Prop. 303 making it legal in Arizona for companies and physicians to provide terminally ill patients the “right to try” investigational drugs or therapies outside an FDA approved clinical trial. While it sounded good in the short description provided to voters, in reality, it is unlikely to provide the outcomes one might expect since the manufacturers, physicians, pharmacists, and hospitals are required to follow the federal processes that govern these investigational treatments. Proposition 303 did not change that.

What Are Clinical Trials?

The clinical trials process is an important step in the discovery, development and delivery pathway that leads to new life saving and live enhancing innovations.Clinical trials are research studies that explore whether a medical strategy, treatment, or device is safe and effective for patients. These studies also may show which medical approaches work best for certain illnesses or groups of people. Clinical trials produce the best data available for health care decision making and the studies follow strict scientific standards. These standards protect patients and help produce reliable study results.

Today, in Arizona, there are 1,380 ongoing clinical trials according to ClincialTrials.gov which is the national database provided by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.These studies cover a wide range of therapies and conditions.Through the dedicated work of innovators, healthcare professionals, and patients, we are learning more about the safety and effectiveness of future treatments.

ClinicalTrials.govis a registry and results database of publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants conducted around the world and currently lists 187,600 studies with locations in all 50 states and in 189 countries.

How can we speed the path to innovation and give more patients access to life changing innovations?

On April 29th, members of Arizona’s life science industry and members of the community at large will gather the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown for the 2015 AZBio Expo which will focus on clinical trials in Arizona. Event details and ticket information for the 2015 AZBio Expo on April 29, 2015 at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown are available at AZBioExpo.com.

Thanks to the support of leaders in Arizona’s life science community, practicing physicians, patients, and caregivers are invited to register for the full day conference free of charge with discount code “AZBusiness.”

The program is designed to provide an update on what Arizona’s clinical trial landscape looks like today and what is could grow to be in the future.The program includes:

• An Introduction to The Clinical Trials Process by Mark Slater, PhD, Vice President, Research at HonorHealth Research Institute

• A keynote presentation by Matthew Huentelman, PhD, Associate Professor, Neurogenomics Division and Head of the Neurobehavioral Research Unit at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen)

• A View of Arizona’s Clinical Trials Landscape by Joan Koerber-Walker, President and CEO of the Arizona Bioindustry Association and Chairman of the AdvaMed State Medical Technology Alliance in Washington, DC.

• A Discussion on Funding Clinical Trials led by Joan Koerber-Walker with Terry Urbine, PhD of theUA College of Pharmacy, Jeremy Shefner, MD, PhD of the Barrow Neurological Institute, and Teresa Bartels from Gateway for Cancer Research.

• A Discussion on Engaging Patients in the Process led by Greg Vigdor, President & CEO, Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association withBrian Browne of Banner Research, Barbara Kavanaugh of the Arizona Myeloma Network, and Marcia K. Horn of the International Cancer Advocacy Network

Each year, AZ Business magazine hosts the Healthcare Leadership Awards to honor the women, men and institutions that bring excellence and innovation to Arizona’s healthcare sector.

Az Business is proud to announce the 2015 Healthcare Leadership Awards finalists, who were chosen by a panel of industry experts and will be recognized at the Healthcare Leadership Awards dinner and awards ceremony on April 9 at the Arizona Grand Resort. The finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

Abrazo Health — Arrowhead Hospital

Abrazo Health — Michele Finney

Affiliated Urologists — Dr. Mark Hong

Banner Health, Cardon Children’s Medical Center — Rachel Calendo

Banner Health — Peter Fine

Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation — Catherine Ivy

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck — Martin L. Shultz

Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Western Regional Medical Center

Johnson joins the team with nearly two decades of health care management experience. He most recently led a Minnesota pediatric health network to increased cost efficiencies and improved quality.

“As the Phoenix Children’s Care Network family of physicians grows, we look forward to improving the quality of care for children across Arizona,” said Dr. Anne Garrett, chair of PCCN’s Board of Managers. “Chad is going to be a valuable addition to the team and brings diverse experience and a broad vision to the table.”

Clinically integrated organizations have become more popular among adult populations over the past five years as health care providers seek innovative ways to deliver quality care while controlling costs. Still uncommon for pediatric practitioners, PCCN was one of the first pediatric clinically integrated organizations established.

PCCN has grown to include more than 800 physicians across Maricopa County, including more than half of all Valley pediatricians and 80 percent of the metropolitan area’s pediatric specialists, and accounts for more than half a million unique covered pediatric lives.

“Joining the PCCN team is very exciting,” said Johnson. “This network is leading the way both locally and nationally in pediatric clinically integrated care. I am excited to be working with our network of physicians as we break new ground in the delivery of high-quality, cost-efficient pediatric clinical care.”

Phoenix Children’s Care Network provides Arizona families critical access to the largest array of pediatric generalists and specialists, including those found at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The alignment allows health care professionals to closely monitor outcomes and thereby improve care and reduce costs.

“We’re already seeing positive results,” added Johnson. “Because our providers work exclusively with children, 100 percent of our focus is on the kids and families we serve. This is reflected in our focus on achieving the best pediatric clinical outcomes while providing an efficient and excellent patient experience.”

McDowell Mountain Music Festival took over Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix over the weekend.

The three-day festival featured more than 30 bands from a wide range of genres between the local and main stages.

For the 12th year, Wespac Construction hosted the event as a fundraiser for charity. McDowell Mountain Music Festival benefits UMOM Day Centers and Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

The festival was kicked off Friday with a mixture of pop, rock and electronic music.

Once the sun set, Portugal. The Man captivated the crowds with their slow-paced pop tones. They played their set without many breaks. It was challenging to determine where one song ended and another began, but the flow of the set was extremely smooth and consistently held the crowd’s attention.

Portugal. The Man closed out their set with a fusion of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall” before melting into their song, “Purple, Yellow, Red and Blue.”

Passion Pit closed out the first night with a constantly fast set. Lead singer Michael Angelakos was never idle for long as he bounced all over the stage.

Although they closed out their main set with their hit “Take a Walk”, Passion Pit came back minutes later for an encore with “Sleepyhead” that put the first day of the festival over the top.

Saturday’s lineup featured a slower pace of music with bands such as Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Phantogram. The mixture of fast jazz and electronic music created a quelling evening.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue played a set that exploited the number of brass instruments the band uses. Despite the lack of vocals in the group’s songs, the group had the entire crowd moving and shaking.
Phantogram kept the energy with their electronic pop music, which allowed Thievery Corporation to come in and wrap up the second night on a high note.

A conglomeration of bands on Sunday brought the festival to a close. From rock to folk to country, Sunday offered the most diverse day of them all.

Widespread Panic closed out the festival with energized country music with a number of guitar solos.

Overall, the festival featured a variety of music to satisfy the tastes of everyone in attendance.

Although some of the bands have a more popular ring to them, the lesser-known bands were definitely able to pull out their fair share of tricks.

For example, the Revivalists, a band out of Louisiana, played early Sunday afternoon. Lead singer David Shaw was in and out of the pit throughout the performance, bringing fans closer to the music.

The local stage featured a variety of talent as well. For Saturday and Sunday, festival attendees could experience a Drum Circle.

Other local stage talent throughout the weekend highlighted mostly alternative bands from around the Valley.

Aside from the music, there were a variety of vendors offering food, clothes, jewelry, and more to enhance the average festival attendees’ experience.

Although she doesn’t, Dr. Connie Mariano could boast about her title as the first Filipino American in history to receive the rank of Navy Rear Admiral. However, when she reflects on her past, this “first” may not seem quite as significant as another first: “the first patient.”

This is how Dr. Mariano, former White House physician, referred to her most important patient: the president of the United States.

Mariano served for nine years as the White House physician under President George H.W. Bush, President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush.

Mariano published a captivating book about her experiences at the White House. The memoir, titled “The White House Doctor: My Patients Were Presidents,” is written in such a way that you feel as if you’re sitting down with Mariano herself, listening to stories about her years caring for the most important patients of her medical career.

Since 2001, Mariano has lived and served people here in the Valley. After four years working as a consultant in the Executive Health Care Program at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Mariano established the Center for Executive Medicine, a medical concierge practice for CEOs and their families. Framed pictures of Mariano being sworn in as Rear Admiral and posing with Presidents and other world leaders adorn the walls of her medical office, furnished to resemble the West Wing of the White House.

While Mariano has spent her life in innovative service to others, she’s not finished yet. Recently, Mariano was nominated and chosen to sit on the board of directors for Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Ever since Mariano’s younger sister came close to death at the age of 3 after accidentally ingesting poisonous liquid, Mariano, who played a vital role in saving her sister’s life, has recognized the importance of quality pediatric care.

Now, a mother of two and a stepmother of two, Mariano continues to see the need for excellent pediatric medicine and as a physician who cares for adults, oftent sees the dangerous effects of unhealthy choices that could have been prevented in childhood.

“As a parent, I can definitely see the importance of (pediatric care),” said Mariano. “But also as a physician who believes in preventative medicine, I think if you can give good care in the pediatrics world, get (children) started with good prevention of disease and good health habits, as well as educate the parents, you’ll have a healthier population.”

When discussing what excited her about the board position with PCH, Mariano said, “The most significant thing was to be part of a great team of people who are really going to make a difference in childcare here in the Valley.”

Mariano looks forward to acting as a liaison between Phoenix Children’s Hospital and the federal government and using the connections she has in Washington to contribute to the growing institution.

“There’s a reason I’m in this position in my life,” Mariano said. “The best thing to do about it is to touch lives.”

With every life she encounters, Mariano asks, “How can I help that life be better?” As a board member for Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Mariano will be able to contribute to the betterment of thousands of young lives.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital received a $200,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation. The grant will support the hospital’s “Connected Patient Project,” which provides customized patient care information on tablets.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital uses Journey Boards as tools to help families of a sick child identify what they need to know before taking their child home from the hospital. Parts of the Journey Board may also be applied to a clinic or emergency room visit.

The hospital is currently using print versions of the Journey Board. Through the grant, this information will be delivered utilizing technology, with 200 tablets being installed in patient rooms with interactive, customized content. The project will benefit 13,000 patients annually. In addition to the James M. Cox Foundation grant, Cox Communications is also funding the creation of 21 Journey Board apps, available in English and Spanish.

“For families, hospital stays can be a very intense and stressful time and it can be hard to retain information under those conditions,” said Teresa Boeger, director, Division of Family Centered Care at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. “Journey Boards help us ensure that comprehension is taking place and helps us identify gaps in understanding. We’re excited about the success we’ve experienced with the Journey Boards and are looking forward to taking it to the next level with the use of technology. Cox has truly been a friend of Phoenix Children’s as we continue to incorporate technology into patient care.”

Phoenix Children’s Hospital is Arizona’s only licensed children’s hospital and among the largest freestanding facilities of its kind in the country, with 385 licensed beds. The hospital operates satellite centers in the East Valley, Scottsdale, the Northwest Valley, Southwest Valley, Yuma and Flagstaff.

“Cox Communications continues to invest in Arizona’s technology infrastructure and communities by offering the fastest speeds available in the state,” said John Wolfe, Cox Communications senior vice president and southwest region manager. “Cox and Phoenix Children’s Hospital have been partners for more than a decade and Cox is pleased to be the hospital’s Internet provider. This grant will help the hospital deliver customized content to educate and comfort their patients’ families.”

The James M. Cox Foundation was named after Cox Enterprises’ founder and provides funding for capital campaigns and special projects in communities where Cox Communications, Cox Automotive and Cox Media Group operate.

“As a technology company, we are transforming our world with new products and services,” said Alex Taylor, Cox Enterprises executive vice president and great-grandson of James M. Cox, the company’s founder. “But this one in particular feels good because it helps children and their families at a time when they need it most.”

A two-year Clinical Informatics Fellowship Program, sponsored by Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix (formerly Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center), is being launched following the creation of a new clinical subspecialty by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

The American Council on Graduate Medical Education has accredited the program, which is scheduled to begin later this year, said program director Howard Silverman, MD, MS. Two physician fellows will be admitted in July in the first program cohort.

The program will be overseen by Dr. Silverman, chairman of the department of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. Biomedical Informatics faculty from all major teaching affiliates will be actively involved in this innovative training program.

Biomedical informatics is the emerging field of optimizing data, using technology, to improve patient care and research.

“This fellowship is meant for the physician trying to pursue a more effective use of biomedical data to improve health,” said Dr. Silverman. “This represents another way we are training the next generation of physicians to thoughtfully utilize information technology to improve the quality and safety of clinical care.”

The American Medical Informatics Association has defined the fellowship as one in which physicians will pursue the effective uses of biomedical data, information, and knowledge for scientific inquiry, problem solving, and decision making, motivated by efforts to improve human health. Notice of accreditation was received on Feb. 25.

The fellowship is a community-based initiative with a diversity of settings, projects and approaches and is open to physicians of all specialties following completion of a primary residency. Fellows will take on rotations, projects and electives, as well as eight online core content courses from Oregon Health and Science University, totaling 24 credits, and resulting in a Graduate Certificate in Biomedical Informatics from the Oregon school. The major teaching sites are Banner Health, Dignity Health, Maricopa Integrated Health System, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, the Phoenix VA Medical Center and the State of Arizona Office of Public Health Statistics.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital will play host to more than 750 physicians and health care professionals from across the U.S. for the 38th annual Melvin L. Cohen Pediatric Update at the Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix.

In the past four decades, the event has grown to become one of the largest pediatric health care conferences in the country. This year’s symposium will feature speakers from leading health care education centers and providers, including Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Harvard, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Mayo Clinic, University of Arizona College of Medicine, and of course, Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

This year’s Pediatric Update will build on the program’s long-standing tradition of educating pediatricians, specialists and pediatric nurse practitioners on the latest advances in evidence-based practices in pediatric medicine. Lecture and workshop topics will range from emergency medicine and infectious disease to gynecology, gastroenterology and psychology.

“As one of the leading pediatric hospitals in the country, we are well-suited to provide the best educational experience and timely pediatric information and practices for health professionals,” said Robert L. Meyer, president and CEO of Phoenix Children’s Hospital. “The panel of medical professionals we present this year is unparalleled in its quality and commitment to excellence.”

Coinciding with Pediatric Update, the 19th annual Children’s Neuroscience Symposium, presented by Barrow at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, brings a dedicated examination of the latest information to assess neurological conditions and manage patient care. Sessions will focus on pediatric spinal disorders, the pediatrician’s role in neurological emergencies and neurosurgery, as well as advances in children’s headaches and sleep disorders.

“Pediatric neurological disorders impact thousands of families across the country, and at Phoenix Children’s we continue to provide the educational resources to improve patient care,” said Dr. P. David Adelson, director, Barrow at Phoenix Children’s.

In its third year, the Pediatric Update’s Childhood Obesity Symposium seeks to provide a better understanding of the complex causes of weight gain, maintenance and weight loss. Endocrinology, behavioral health, microbiomes, and diet and fitness will play a role in the learning.

“It’s estimated that more than a third of America’s youth are overweight or obese,” Dr.Don McClellan, division chief, pediatric endocrinologist, Phoenix Children’s Medical Group. “Phoenix Children’s takes this problem very seriously, because obesity creates a myriad of problems for youth, and often leads to diseases and serious health issues later in life.”

Troon,® the leader in upscale golf course management, development, and marketing, is pleased to announce that charitable events and tournaments at Troon facilities throughout the United States raised more than $12,609,533 for charities in 2014. Through facility sales efforts, Team Troon national sales efforts and Troon charity programs like Troon Drives H.O.P.E., thousands of charitable events were hosted at Troon facilities throughout the year. National events included Patriot Golf Day, World’s Largest Golf Outing and Els For Autism, to name a few. Local and regional events included fundraising programs for local hospitals like the Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s annual golf event at Troon North Golf Club in Arizona, along with other programs supporting schools and civic organizations throughout the country.

“It seems like each and every day, somewhere in the world of Troon, we are working with local, regional and in many cases national charitable causes to coordinate golf tournaments, banquets, fundraising galas and the like,” stated John Easterbrook, executive vice president of operations for Troon. “The net result in 2014 was more than $12 million raised for a number of great worthy causes. We are honored to partner with these events and to give back to the communities where we serve,” added Easterbrook.

A number of Troon facilities reported results in excess of $1 million raised at their facilities in 2014, including:

“Thank you to all of our associates and facilities that played a role in these fundraising events, and more importantly, thank you to the organizations, boards and tournament planners that select Troon facilities to partner as host venues for their fundraising events,” added Easterbrook.

About Troon Drives H.O.P.E.

Troon Drives H.O.P.E. celebrates the way Troon’s facilities and associates around the world are involved in charities, environmental initiatives and fundraising events. Each element of Troon Drives H.O.P.E., which includes Humanitarian Efforts Worldwide; Opportunities to Grow the Game; Partnerships in Our Communities; and Environmental Initiatives, serve to bring these actions to light and to share the collective impact Troon facilities and associates have on their communities.

• David Bixby, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary at Banner Health, was named General Counsel of the Year. Bixby joined Banner (then Samaritan Health System) in 1998 as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary. From 1981 to 1998, he was with Lewis and Roca LLP, in Phoenix, as an associate and partner, he specialized in corporate mergers and acquisitions, finance and health care law. Bixby received his bachelor of arts degree in history and literature from Harvard University, a bachelor of arts (honors) in history from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and his law degree from Yale Law School. He is a member of the Arizona Bar, the American Health Lawyers Association, and the American Corporate Counsel Association.

• JDA Software‘s legal department earned Legal Department of the Year. Led by Chief Legal Officer Martin Felli, JDA’s legal team has grown from approximately 10 to 24 associates in the last six months to better support the company’s strategic initiatives. The legal department has focused its efforts on building the team from Arizona-based legal talent. The team’s proactive, high-engagement business model aligns to the company’s guiding principles and leaves a lasting impression that JDA is a company people want to do business with. With a focus on improved communications, employee engagement, streamlined corporate governance processes and proactive client-centered internal training and awareness initiatives on a wide range of compliance matters, the team embraces the company’s mission to “plan to deliver” in all aspects of its work.

• Franc Del Fosse, general counsel and secretary at Insys, was named IP Attorney of the Year. After joining Insys, Del Fosse worked with President and CEO Michael L. Babich in establishing the legal and compliance departments of Insys. Immediately prior to joining Insys, Del Fosse was a partner at the law firm of Snell & Wilmer. Del Fosse began his legal career as an associate at the law firm of Shearman & Sterling and holds a degree from Columbia University School of Law and an undergraduate degree from Arizona State University. In 2013, Insys had its initial public offering and had the top performing IPO nationally that year. In 2014, Inys was named Arizona Bioscience Company of the Year by the Arizona Bioindustry Association.

• Carmen L. Neuberger, senior vice president, legal affairs and general counsel for Phoenix Children’s Hospital earned Nonprofit Attorney of the Year. Neuberger is responsible for managing the legal environment at Phoenix Children’s. This includes providing legal guidance, developing hospital-wide policies and procedures, counseling the hospital on business transactions, and managing complex contractual relationships. She also is involved in the legal aspects of medical staff privileging and credentialing, risk management, patient-related matters, regulatory compliance and privacy, clinical research and employment law. She is also credited with developing and implementing a code of ethics, and improving the relationship between the legal and human resources departments. Neuberger came to Phoenix Children’s in 2007 with more than 20 years of experience in healthcare law.

• Mary Beth Orson, vice president, legal and deputy general counsel for Apollo Education Group was named Public Company Attorney of the Year. At the time Orson joined Apollo, there were a number of significant pending legal matters, including a Section 10(b)(5) class action lawsuit. In response to these matters and other challenges, the Apollo general counsel’s office, under Orson’s direction, updated and adapted the company’s disclosure controls and procedures to reflect the far more complex business organization that Apollo had become in the years prior to her arrival. These policies and procedures led to enhanced public disclosure practices that we believe have been emulated by other leading proprietary education companies. Orson is credited with effectively creating order out of disorder.

• Michael Reagan, executive vice president and general counsel for Kahala Corporation, was named Private Company Attorney of the Year. During his 15-year tenure with Kahala, Reagan has overseen all legal and real estate affairs for the company and its 14 restaurant brands — which include Cold Stone Creamery, America’s Taco Shop, Blimpie, Taco Time, Great Steak & Potato and Samurai Sam’s. He is part of an executive team that, during the past eight years has grown Kahala from 80 outlets to more than 3,000; raised nearly $200 million in private transactions; identified, negotiated and completed nearly $200 million in acquisitions. Reagan personally handled all due diligence and other legal aspects of each transaction and helped integrate the acquired companies into Kahala and its uniform franchising and operating platform.

• Jason Steiner, corporate counsel, Insight Enterprises, was named Up-and-Comer of the Year. In less than two years, Steiner has proved himself to be a valuable contributor to the Legal Department at Insight, working on contracts, supporting internal investigations throughout North America, litigating smaller claims himself, supporting litigation involving restrictive covenants with former employees, becoming proficient in the field of eDiscovery and developing the necessary labor and employment knowledge to be a front-line resource for the HR department. Steiner has a “can do” attitude, a willingness to learn new areas and the drive and tenacity to see tasks through to completion. Steiner graduated from ASU with a B.S. in finance (2009) and a J.D. (2012) from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.

Make this holiday season extra merry when you visit the 12 Days of Christmas Boutique at Royal Palms Resort & Spa, a Destination Hotel. The pop-up shop, opening on Sunday, December 14, will offer a number of Royal Palms exclusive gifts, candles, holiday ornaments, golf clothing and accessories, specialty signs and more.

Throughout the 12 Days of Christmas, the T. Cook’s bakery will be whipping up a cookie of the day that will be sold exclusively in the holiday boutique with delicious options including Double Fudge Peppermint, Pumpkin Spice Woopie Pie, Cranberry Orange Macaroon and Brown Butter Toffee Blondie.

Event details include:

• 12 Days of Christmas Boutique at Royal Palms Resort & Spa is open daily from December 14 through December 25 from 10 a.m. until 7p.m.

• The boutique will sell items exclusive to Royal Palms, including luscious robes, gift card packages and Alvadora Spa Neroli Signature gift bags, holiday themed gifts and a cookie of the day.

• Cookie boxes are priced at $15 for one dozen and $7 for a half dozen.

Select purchases made at the Christmas Boutique will go toward supporting Phoenix Children’s Hospital. For more information, visit www.royalpalmshotel.com/ or call, 602-840-3610.

Kitchell has been engaged to improve shell space it built three years ago at Phoenix Children’s Hospital as part of the $356 million tower project. The $10 million build-out comprises design and construction of a 45,000-square-foot, 48-bed medical/surgical unit in existing shell space on the ninth floor of the main tower at 1919 E. Thomas Road. HKS, the architect for the tower, also designed the new unit. Increased capacity addresses the pediatric population boom currently underway in Arizona.

Kitchell’s past experience with the campus, knowledge of the scope of work and relationships with hospital staff members are assets to the construction project. For example, using the Building Information Model (virtual model) Kitchell initially created for the tower will expedite the submittal phase and facilitate lean construction processes. The team subscribes to an integrated project delivery philosophy, working together seamlessly with the hospital and HKS.

Kitchell’s work at Phoenix Children’s Hospital resulted in industry accolades, including the Golden Trowel Award for concrete, Engineering News-Record Specialty Award for Steel, American Concrete Institute Award and the Modern Healthcare Design Award, among others.

Az Business magazine, in conjunction with the State Bar of Arizona, have announced the finalists for the 2015 Arizona Corporate Counsel (ACC) Awards.

The finalists and winners will be honored at an awards dinner and reception on Jan. 15, 2015 at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa in Scottsdale. Click here for more information about the event.

The Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation has announced its 22nd annual Beach Ball gala to benefit the Hospital’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

To be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015, at The Phoenician resort, this year’s theme is the Lemonade Soirée, inspired by the positive attitudes of Phoenix Children’s Hospital (PCH) patients who every day find ways to make lemonade out of the proverbial lemons that life has handed them.

Event organizers will look to beat last year’s fundraising initiatives, which raised an incredible $1,005,000, by adding even more incredible packages for silent and live auctions, in addition to having another sell-out year.

The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Phoenix Children’s Hospital is the largest pediatric program of its kind in Arizona, providing a family-centered approach to care for children diagnosed with malignancies and hematologic diseases. Nearly 300 children and teens with a new diagnosis of cancer are treated at Phoenix Children’s each year, with nearly 70 receiving treatment each day. Each child has his or her own team of physicians, nurses, social workers, physical therapists, nutritionists and more, who provide care throughout the treatment and healing process.

“Our Center employs many of the nation’s top specialists in the fields of hematology and oncology, and it is through their expertise and the generosity of our donors that we are able to provide cutting-edge medicine to all of our pediatric patients,” said Dr. Robert Arceci, Phoenix Children’s Medical Group Division Chief in Hematology and Oncology. “The funds raised through the efforts of this year’s Beach Ball Committee will allow us to expand upon our already existing exceptional standard of care.”

A leader in the fields of oncology and hematology, Phoenix Children’s Hospital houses the largest pediatric cancer and blood disorder programs in the state. Specialty programs in these fields include Early Drug Development, Survivor/Long-Term Follow Up and Neuro-oncology, in addition to the Ottosen Family Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Solid Tumor/Vascular Program and Liquid Tumor Program.

“Every year, Beach Ball gets better and better. I am personally excited for this year’s theme because it captures the true spirit of what – and more importantly – who, we raise money for,” said Steve Schnall, senior vice president and chief development officer for Phoenix Children’s Hospital. “These kids are an inspiration day in and day out, and this year, we hope to provide some inspiration for them – to let them know how much our community cares about their treatment and survival.”

Since Beach Ball’s inception in 1993, the event has raised more than 13.5 million dollars for Phoenix Children’s Hospital. This year’s event will be co-chaired by Susan Rehorn, Amy Joffe and Gerri Richards, all active members in the local community and each heavily involved in raising money for PCH.

Planning for the event is already underway, with 50 members of the community coming together to volunteer their time, service and generosity for the benefit of the Hospital. To become involved in the planning of the 2015 Beach Ball event, or to volunteer for future events, please contact Lyndsay Magre, Director of Special Events, at (602) 933-2669.

“The opening of this unit is an important part of enhancing our geographic footprint and bringing our special brand of pediatric care closer to patients and their families,” said Dr. Katherine McDonnell, medical director for the unit.

The unit, which features 22 private patient rooms, offers around-the-clock pediatric coverage staffed by Phoenix Children’s hospitalists for children requiring observation or inpatient care. Children with more complex conditions requiring advanced care have direct access to Phoenix Children’s main campus where a full array of dedicated subspecialists and additional resources are available.

Patients can access the unit several ways, including by transfer from the Mercy Gilbert Emergency Department, direct admission from a community primary care provider or a direct admission from an outside urgent care or emergency department. The unit will admit children with numerous diagnoses, including bronchiolitis, pneumonia, asthma, viral illness, fever, and more.

The inpatient unit adds to the presence Arizona’s largest children’s hospital already has in the region, which includes Phoenix Children’s – East Valley Center, which offers specialty, urgent care and outpatient surgery, and a Phoenix Children’s Medical Group specialty care center on the Mercy Gilbert campus.

“We’re thrilled to be opening the new Phoenix Children’s pediatric unit at Mercy Gilbert today,” says Tim Bricker, president and CEO of Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers. “Children in our community now have access to a high level of pediatric medical care much closer to home.”

The new partnership brings together the medical expertise and resources of renowned surgeon and healthcare technology visionary Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD, with Phoenix Children’s commitment to genomic research and access to a large pediatric patient base. The institute will transform the pediatric health care landscape by applying state-of-the-art genomic and proteomic technology to identify precision diagnoses, treatments and cures for young patients facing serious illnesses.

“Our goal is to bring genomics research to the forefront of pediatrics,” said Robert L. Meyer, president and CEO of Phoenix Children’s Hospital. “With Dr. Soon-Shiong’s transformative technology implemented at Phoenix Children’s, the realization of all children having access to life-saving precision medicine becomes one step closer.”

Soon-Shiong is the founder of Nantworks, largely dedicated to applying genomic and proteomic analysis studies to translate diagnoses and cures more quickly and accurately. To date, his efforts have been focused on the adult population. Through this institute, Phoenix Children’s will serve as the exclusive national hub for pediatric genomic research and translational precision medicine.

“Phoenix Children’s is unique among children’s hospitals,” noted Dr. Soon-Shiong. “The leadership and the board of this hospital are leading their peers in health care by executing on an operational principle of patient centered 21st century care. They have attracted talented researchers and clinical scientists and have demonstrated their ability to advance a vision for precision medicine in pediatrics.”

At the crux of this revolutionary undertaking is super computing cloud based technology and artificial intelligence. Phoenix Children’s will be home to one of the few dedicated supercomputers in the country, which can deliver genomic sequencing and analysis more quickly than ever before. Appropriate patients undergo full genome sequencing and proteomics analysis in an unprecedented seven days.

“Current genome sequencing takes time,” added Meyer. “And that’s something that these patients don’t have. The mission is to develop innovative and effective diagnostics and therapies for young patients, while empowering physicians with the most up-to-date research and therapeutic models available, all to deliver potentially life-saving treatments.”

Often, existing treatment protocols lack efficacy for patients; this new genomic analysis will alter that dynamic through specific and targeted therapeutic remedies based on the individual’s unique genetic makeup. In time, Soon-Shiong’s technology will lead to a comprehensive genomic database platform, from which a shared information consortium will be integrated into a global diagnosis, treatment, and result-based methodology. A vast bank of pediatric patient data will be generated via a consortium of children’s hospitals, led by Phoenix Children’s.

“The Chan Soon-Shiong Children’s Precision Medicine Institute will fundamentally alter the way pediatric health care is delivered around the world,” said Meyer.